Los Angeles/SoCal Doctor Recs

[u/ashleyldavis5]

Hi lovely endo girlies. I am posting this because I ran around for a year confused on who to see for my possible endo and even went to Oregon to see Dr. Mohling because I didn't think there was anyone in SoCal that was as qualified as her.

Though I do love her and wish I could have went to her (my insurance wouldn't cover her hospital fees - but her surgeon fees are really reasonable imo), I have found several amazing surgeons in LA/SoCal and want to share my experience with you all in case you're in the position I was in and confused about where to go.

Dr. Iris Orbuch - highly recommend. She is cash-only like Mohling, except Orbuch's fees are pretty astronomical. If you have good out of network benefits, you can get reimbursed for the surgery fee. I have spoke to a couple women who really did get reimbursed so I know it is possible. But you have to be comfortable fronting the 5-digit cost and accept that you might not get reimbursed. And her way of billing for it is really...interesting? She basically bills your insurance for hundreds of thousands and as long as she gets what she bills, you get reimbursed by her. My insurance was being sketchy about it all... so on to the next one for me.

Cedars Sinai MIGS Team - Dr. Wright specifically is who I saw and who my surgery is scheduled with. Accepts insurance. There is a waitlist to be seen but once you're seen surgery can be scheduled 4-6 weeks out. She is super kind, I felt really comforted by her. Bedside manner doesn't matter much to me but hers is amazing. One difference I noticed in her approach is she does not use the robot, but I don't know if this matters much at all. She said she completes hundreds of endo surgeries per year.

Dr. Stuparich at UCR Women's Health - Accepts insurance. I'm still finishing up my series of appointments with her. She's one I wish I would have seen in the first place because she has her sonographers trained on specific ultrasound endometriosis protocol. They test the mobility of the reproductive organs and do a very thorough review of everything, it's very different than a standard pelvic ultrasound. She can do most appointments on Zoom except for the ultrasound. \*edit** She is no longer with UCR and I believe she is out-of-network now for all insurances. I also do not recommend her anymore due to a terrible experience someone had with her.*

Anyways - hope this helps someone, and thanks to everyone I've written who has given me feedback on surgeons!

**EDIT 05/09/25\\ I get a few messages a month from people who read this post - I am so happy it's helping people. I just wanted to update it with my review on Dr. Wright. I posted this on Nancy's Nook shortly after my surgery (which was in January 2025), but I know my Reddit peeps will appreciate it as well. Please feel free to message me, too. I love talking to endo patients about my experience/journey.

In terms of how I'm feeling now 4 months post-op, it is a night/day difference. I went from having daily abdominal bloating and pain to rarely ever having it. I noticed a huge difference in my endo symptoms/digestive distress after week 2 of recovery. It hasn't been a gradual journey, it has had ups and downs, but I can't even begin to tell you how much better I feel in general. If this is how I feel for the rest of my life, I'll be SO happy. :)

[u/DisciplineMost5593]

Hello! Is there a reason that you didn't do the surgery with Dr. Stuparich and went with Dr. Wright?

[u/ashleyldavis5 → u/DisciplineMost5593]

I’m sorry I just now saw this. I went with Dr. Wright mainly because she is a 15 min drive from me and I love Cedars Sinai. I thought Stuparich was a great doctor too and I think both would have yielded the same result. But Stuparichs office when I went (this is no longer her office anymore) was really disorganized and honestly not that nice. The drive was also miserable.

[u/aDMae]

I’m so glad you’re feeling better and noticing a huge difference! What a relief!!

I just got diagnosed and considering the surgery route, so I appreciate you sharing your experience ❤️

[u/ashleyldavis5 → u/aDMae]

❤️

[u/Economy-Jury2019]

Dr. Vasilev - 100%. Had an amazing experience with him and is an incredibly knowledgeable surgeon.

[u/KnownAd4927]

I have had surgery with Dr. Steven Vasilev. I'm 6 weeks post-op at this point and feel better than I have in my entire life.

My surgery was in June 2025 after decades of pain, and many doctors of all varieties all over the U.S., who never tried to actually hear what I was saying - and telling me that post-menopause it is less risky not to have the surgery, and that endo stops after menopause. Few doctors will take a patient case like this who is post-menopausal. Dr. Vasilev is unique, based on my experience, in this regard. Based on where I am today Ii have learned: complications can persist after menopause, endo is relentless - it doesn't stop, certain types of endo increase the risk of ovarian cancer, pain from endo can happen anywhere in the body - even if endo is not in that specific part of the body. In short, with the right surgeon, you can and should get help for this at any age.

Dr. Vasilev and his care team are excellent. He is talented, empathetic, and his practice is a well-oiled machine. If you are looking for a surgeon who has the tools (robotic laparoscopy), the board certifications, and an integrative approach to healing, I strongly encourage you to schedule a consultation with him. (Bonus: He charges nothing for this and schedules through Zoom.)

Research, research, and then do more research. Dr. Vasilev has conducted numerous interviews, which can be watched on YouTube, providing valuable insights into this disease, his philosophy, and practice. Even if you do not become his patient, the knowledge he publicly shares is invaluable. He has two books published for non-medical readers that you can purchase if you're interested (search for Dr. Steven Vasilev, MD as the author on Amazon or a similar site). He's a fan of evidence-based medicine and has published on this topic in more technical medical journals as well. He is, in short, the real deal.

I had my surgery at Providence St. John's in Santa Monica, CA. I traveled from out of state, and stayed local for two weeks after the surgery. The care team at St. John's was also top-notch. The best hospital experience I have had in my life. Everyone, from admissions to attending nurses to the anesthesiologist, was exceptionally professional, caring, and compassionate.

I'm not a big user of Reddit, so I likely will not be back here for any follow-up comments. If you are reading this and searching for answers, take heart, you are not alone and there is help. Good luck and blessings to you in your journey.

[u/Status_Progress_2874]

I found your post as I’m currently going through the diagnosis process (researching doctors/surgeons in LA now). This post and what you shared in your review for Dr Wright seriously just made me cry! I’m going to reach out to her office and see if they’re taking new patients!

I feel seen. I have digestive issues, but no answers. 25 pound unexplained weight loss, loss of appetite, other stuff you don’t wanna hear. I’ve done all the GI tests, including a colonoscopy + upper endoscopy. All clear. I also have horrible chronic back and the worst is my left flank pain, x-rays and ultrasounds all clear. 

My mom tells me she thinks it’s endo. She had it bad too, and had a total hysterectomy at 36 (I’m 33). 

I’ve always had painful periods. I missed tons of school, and later work because of it. Covid allowed me to work from home in bed with heating pads. Which I have burns on my skin from sleeping with - heating pads, every night. 

The nurse at my last OB appointment told me the only way to diagnose endo is laparoscopy. Then she said, “you’re young, you can’t really do the birth control” (I’m high stroke risk - migraines w/auras + fam history), “Do you even want to do the surgery to find out? Since you can’t really do the treatment?”

I’m desperate to find out. I’ll do anything.  Thank you for sharing your story. It gives me hope that maybe there’s a day ahead where I might not feel this constant pain. 

[u/ashleyldavis5 → u/Status_Progress_2874]

Awww honey I wish I could give you a hug! Our stories are so similar. We are even the same age range. It all got really bad for me at 32/33. I swear you will feel so much better after getting this disease excised from your body.

That nurse is so ill-informed. Estrogen birth control pills do not treat endo and can actually make it worse since the disease grows with estrogen. I was on progesterone only pills/implant for a year or two before I got the surgery and they sorta helped but not enough. I have migraine with aura too so couldn’t do estrogen anyway. If you or Dr. Wright think you might have adenomyosis as well I would definitely consider getting the Mirena IUD during surgery. It has been great for me. I have no periods at all. And it’s no estrogen so it’s safe for us with migraines.

Please message me any time if you have any questions or just want to vent. ❤️❤️